Why is this county so Republican.I ask this because it is in a Democratic part of the state.
It doesn't appear that far out of line compared to its rural neighbors (like Henry and Davis). Other neighboring counties have small towns like Burlington, Fort Madison, Keokuk, and Ottumwa that have some manufacturing, and probably some service jobs (Van Buren County with 8000 people may not be able to support a hospital or a WalMart).
Jefferson County to the north has an anomaly due to the presence of the Mahareshi University of Management. In 2000, 1/2 of Iowa's votes for the Natural Law Party were from Jefferson County.
